Perinatal mental health: experiences of women and midwives
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Perinatal mental health: a mixed methods study exploring the experiences of women and midwives in Wales (the MoMs study)
IRAS ID
223701
Contact name
Ben Hannigan
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 2 months, 31 days
Research summary
Psychiatric illness is the leading cause of maternal death in the UK and one in five women will develop some form of mental health problem during pregnancy and the months after childbirth. While for most women normal mood is restored, chronic depression and anxiety can have a significant negative impact on women, their babies and their families.
Despite recognised importance, support for women with perinatal mental health disorders in Wales varies geographically and little is known about experiences of women with mild to moderate mental health issues or the midwives who care for them.
This mixed methods study will identify women with anxiety and depression in early pregnancy through completion of a questionnaire. A small number of women identified through the questionnaire as having anxiety or depression will be invited to participate in individual interviews to explore their experiences of mood during pregnancy. Questionnaires and focus groups will explore the attitudes, training and experiences of midwives who care for women with mental health issues.
In summary, this research aims to better understand the experiences of women during pregnancy with mental health issues and the experiences of the midwives who support them. This will provide information to inform perinatal mental health service provision in Wales.
REC name
Wales REC 4
REC reference
17/WA/0280
Date of REC Opinion
11 Sep 2017
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion